Background and Justification

The 2019/2020 regional emergency preparedness and response plan (EPRP) revealed that conflict induced displacement, disease outbreaks like malaria, measles, scabies, rabies, malnutrition, and drought were the major risks identified in Amhara region.

Amhara region has been the most stable region with no significant displacement and refuges in the history of the country. However, since November 2018 the region has been suffering from the existence of significant number of conflicts induced internally displaced people within and across the region. According to DRMC, before the restart of the currently ongoing conflict/war between TPLF and EDF, the region has been hosting about 1.2 million internally displaced people (IDPs) who are distributed throughout the region, i.e., to all zones and are in need of assistance. However, after the restart of the currently ongoing conflict/ war between TPLF and EDF about 674,492 people are newly displaced (see table below) and as the war is ongoing more people are expected to be internally displaced from the conflict affected part of the region to other places.

Following, this conflict the humanitarian situation across the region continues to deteriorate, and there is high demand of humanitarian response across the region to reach the needs of displaced and vulnerable persons. Access to essential health service in conflict affected areas is seriously affected/compromised. Significant number of health facilities are damaged and looted in Waghimra zone, North Gondar, Central Gondar zone, North Wollo and North Shewa zones of the region.

As the scale of the conflict and the subsequent internal displacement is increasing in the region, human resource is highly demanded in the area of health emergency preparedness and response to ensure the continuity of the provision of quality primary health care services to the IDPs and host communities based on the response plan .

Summary

Title: Health Emergency Consultant

Purpose: To provide technical support to the Amhara Regional Health Bureau and Amhara Region Public Health Institute on health emergencies preparedness and response in general and IDPs response specifically and ensuring continuity of essential health services to IDPs and host communities including Supply and logistics management focusing on zones highly impacted by the conflict.

Duty station: Amhara region-Gondar town, central Gondar zone health office

Duration; Six months (starting from 01, September 2021) with possibility of further extension based on performance and fund’s availability.

No. of consultant: one

Start Date:-01 September 2021

Reporting to: Health Specialist/ Health officer UNICEF Amhara Field Office and Amhara Region Public Health Institute Director General

Specific Tasks 

Under the overall guidance of the health specialist of the field office, the incumbent will report directly to the director of the Regional Health Bureau and Amhara Region Public Health Institute (APHI). He/she will work closely in collaboration with relevant technical officers in the field office, the Regional Health Bureau and Amhara Region Public Health Institute (APHI) Directorate. He/she has first line responsibility for promoting and implementing effective emergency preparedness and response strategies with focus on UNICEF supported thematic areas of IDPs response, supply and logistics and essential health service. He/she will base on zones hugely impacted by the current conflict to support the government in provision of essential health service for women and children.

The main duties and responsibilities are here under:

• Provide support for strengthening essential health service access, supply and logistics for IDPs response and other health related emergencies intervention at zone, woreda and site level in accordance with national and regional guidance.
• Provide technical support to conflict affected zones, woredas and health facilities on the adaptation of national health emergency strategies, standards, protocols, guidelines, training manuals and materials for health-related emergencies with specific focus on IDPs response.
• Provide technical support for the implementation, monitoring and reporting on UNICEF health emergency response plan and ensuring that UNICEF mandated emergency interventions in health priority focus areas are implemented, monitored and managed in a timely and effective manner.
• Provide professional assistance in risk analysis to identify emergency-prone conditions/situations and contribute to timely emergency preparedness.
• Identify formal and informal sources of information and coordinate with WHO to collect, interpret and analyses available data on the evolving emergency and its implications to the emergency operation in UNICEF thematic support areas.
• Keeps the effective flow of information and communication crucial for the planning and implementation of emergency measures.
• Based on needs assessment, support and facilitate capacity building trainings of zonal/woreda and health facility workers and support for the adherence of government and non-government implementing partners to relevant standards and guidelines.
• Conduct continuous assessment of the occurrence of emergency situations. Collaborate with other partners to make a rapid assessment covering priority areas as defined by the Core Commitment for Children in Humanitarian Action. Establishes contact with community groups, government, UN agencies, media and other partners to keep the field office abreast of emergency situations.
• Monitor the proper implementation of the regional IDPs response plan activities and ensure the availability of essential health commodities/supplies and end user monitoring and reporting regularly
• Synergize systematic coordination of appropriate health in emergency operational response plan, with other relevant sectors and among UNICEF nutrition and WASH section.
• Compile accurate and timely emergency related reports on progress made, challenges and opportunities and share to the field office on weekly basis for monitoring progress and input on regional Sitrep for UNICEF Field Office and Ethiopia Country Office
• Collects and analyses lessons learnt from UNICEF’s emergency operations experience and contributes towards adoption of the best practices and standards for longer-term emergency interventions.
• Collaborate with WHO to support the regional, zonal and woreda level emergency information management including collecting, analyzing, and reporting of health situation and response interventions in RCCE, supplies and logistics.
• Undertake other relevant tasks as directed by her/ his supervisor and assist with other duties in support of the UNICEF Health program and FO.

Monitoring strategy

• The Amhara field office will ensure monthly travel plan of the consultants reflect the priority  in the specific ZHDs and woredas
• Members from concerned department of RHB will be mobilized to join for the field mission to have common view of gaps and solutions,
• Submitted field reports will be reviewed by the supervisor and filed for action,
• Action points tracker to be developed and tracked before next field mission takes place.

Reporting

• Monthly written report on the IDPs response and other emergency response activity implementation progress to UNICEF FO Health Specialist/ Officer and RHB APHI director.

Payment Modality and Schedule

• The fees for this contract shall be paid on monthly basis based on the submission of monthly reports against the deliverables indicated above.

Job Requirements

Expected background and Experience and Competencies

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Epidemiology and Health related background
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in emergency and experiences working in Ethiopia’s health sector or NGOs working in emergency
• Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of the national and regional working language is also required

General conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• The consultant shall be based in central Gondar zone and work from zone health office with expected visits to North Gondar, west Gondar, woredas, health facilities and IDP sites.
• The consultant will be managed under the direct formal supervision of RHB, APHI director & the UNICEF FO Health Specialist/Officer.
•  DSA will be provided when travelling outside the base through ABH.
• The consultant should use his/her own materials, i.e. computer.
• The consultant will use rented car through ABH Partners PLC.
• The consultant will be paid monthly upon completion of deliverables as indicated on this TOR and report approved by supervisor through the ABH Partners PLC.

Policy both parties should be aware of:

• ABH Partners will manage all the administrative issues and aspects based on HR’ policies and Procedures.
• All remuneration must be within the contract agreement through the ABH Partners PLC.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both ABH Partners PLC and the Consultant.

How to Apply

Qualified and interested applicants who fulfill the above requirements can apply through this link